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In the dead of night, as the sound of rain pattered against the canvas of his tent, Horyu received a signal—a subtle shift in the chakra atmosphere around him. Quick to act, he sealed his tent with a flick of his wrist, ensuring no one could see or hear what was about to happen. A clone appeared beside him, taking his place. "Switch as soon as you feel something is off," Horyu instructed. With a nod from his clone, Horyu's form blurred and vanished, reappearing in the misty expanse of the Rain Country.

Beside him, materializing through the dense fog, were Zabuza and Haku, who both bowed slightly in respect, while Karin, unable to contain her excitement, leaped into his arms. "Horyu! It's been so long!" she exclaimed, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

"Let's go," Horyu said, patting Karin's back softly before setting her down. Together, the four of them moved stealthily, soon arriving at a dilapidated village that seemed almost ghostly under the moonlight.

As they entered a large, rundown hall, Horyu scanned the gathered group. Eight people were there—some familiar faces and some new. Naruto and Obito, standing together, spoke simultaneously, a mix of surprise and recognition in their voices. "So it is you."

"Long time no see, Naruto," Horyu responded with a slight smile.

Kakashi, Nagato, and Yahiko eyed Horyu warily, their postures tense, while Konan, Rin, and Himawari—Naruto's sister—stood a bit further back, their expressions curious but cautious.

"What brings you to our doorstep, Uchiha Horyu?" Kakashi asked, his tone guarded yet curious. He would have attacked without a delay if it was any other Konoha Shinobi, but Horyu was different.

Horyu smiled slightly as he looked around the dimly lit hall, his eyes settling on Kakashi. "Why? It's been a while since we last met. Can't we reminisce a bit?" Kakashi gave a snort of disbelief, the tension in the room palpable.

Yahiko, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke up, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Who are you?"

Horyu faced the person he knew only from the anime. Yahiko, only ever seen in flashbacks or as a corpse puppet of Pain, was alive and well here. "I am Uchiha Horyu, the one in charge of Konoha's Cloud Front, and potentially the person who will unleash hell on the Rain country in the near future."

This declaration caused a stir among the group. Yahiko and Nagato clenched their fists, visibly tensing, while Kakashi adopted a defensive stance. "Will you attack the person who saved you, Kakashi-san?" Horyu asked, his tone challenging yet oddly playful.

Obito took a step forward, his gaze intense. "So you did it to help us?" he asked, trying to grasp the full scope of Horyu's intentions.

Horyu chuckled lightly, a sound that seemed out of place in the seriousness of the meeting. "What else?"

Naruto looked at him, confusion etched across his face. The Horyu he remembered was weak and timid, but the man standing before him now exuded confidence and strength. "Why do you betray Shisui? He is an Uchiha, right?" Naruto asked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and mistrust.

Horyu sighed, a slight shrug lifting his shoulders as he responded, "I don't like his way of controlling people, and I don't feel safe. Mind you, I don't have anything against Konoha, and I will do my best to protect it. But that doesn't mean I am blindly following orders."

The group exchanged looks, weighing his words. Obito stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "So, you're saying you're here to help us? Just like that?"

"Not just like that," Horyu corrected with a faint smirk. "I have my reasons. Let's just say it benefits us both to avoid turning this place into a battlefield."

Kakashi, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke, "What do you propose?"

Horyu looked around at the assembled members of Akatsuki, his expression unreadable. "Leave," he stated simply.

The room was filled with confusion. Faces turned towards him, seeking clarification. Horyu sighed, realizing that his directness needed elaboration. "Akatsuki will leave Rain. In return, I promise Konoha will not attack uninvolved Rain citizens. We'll do our best to avoid turning villages into war zones and will not target innocent people."

Yahiko's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. "That is impossible. We will not leave our people behind," he asserted firmly, the resolve in his voice echoing the commitment of his comrades.

Horyu snorted dismissively. "Cloud will not attack Rain; they wouldn't dare, not while Hanzo is cooperating with them. And I promise I will not attack your citizens. What else is your purpose here? If you stay, you will be attacked by three different forces."

Kakashi and Nagato exchanged glances, considering the proposal seriously. Nagato's voice was cautious as he asked, "Why would you do that?"

Looking at Naruto and Himawari, Horyu spoke again, his tone slightly softer but still firm. "If you stay here, you will be found sooner or later. At that time, Shisui will learn that Kyubi's Jinchurikis and Minato's spawns are here. What will happen then?"

Everyone tensed at the mention of Kyubi. Naruto stepped forward, disbelief written all over his face. "How can you tell?" he asked, his voice tinged with suspicion and a hint of fear.

Horyu chuckled, a sound that seemed too light for the heavy atmosphere. "I have my ways," he answered cryptically.

Horyu was indeed surprised to see that Naruto and Himawari both carried parts of Kyubi. He had suspected that Minato might have sealed Kyubi in Naruto as in the anime, but he hadn't anticipated that both siblings would carry it. Still, this revelation didn't change his plans.

As Nagato and Yahiko discussed quietly among themselves, the group seemed to weigh their options. After a tense ten minutes, Kakashi broke the silence. "Why did you show your face here? Aren't you worried Shisui will find out about this meeting?"

Horyu laughed, the sound echoing slightly in the dimly lit hall. "And who would tell him? Any of you? Would Shisui believe traitors over his trusted Jonin?" His question hung in the air, heavy with implication.

The others exchanged uneasy looks, knowing he had a point. Their expressions were grim, acknowledging the complexity of their situation.

Nagato, always the one to look for practical solutions, then asked, "Where do we go from here?"

Horyu smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "To the place you should have sought out years ago."

"That's impossible," Obito murmured as he heard the place Horyu told them about, skepticism clear in his tone after he heard what Horyu said.

Horyu shook his head, a serious expression replacing his smile. "It's very possible." He glanced at Zabuza and his team. "My people will lead you. Go, gather your followers, and then sneak out with them. You don't have much time."

The group listened intently as Horyu outlined a plan to move them to a safer location, one that would offer better protection and strategic advantage. Naruto, Himawari, and Nagato looked particularly shocked by what they heard.

After close to an hour discussion between the group, Obito frowned, clearly wrestling with his distrust and the potential benefits of Horyu's plan. Finally, he nodded slowly. "We'll do it. We'll take your path."

As the group dispersed to prepare for their departure, Horyu watched them go, his expression unreadable. Once alone, he allowed himself a brief moment to contemplate the next phase of his strategy. Moving Akatsuki was a risky move, but it was necessary for the greater plans he had in mind for the war and beyond.

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